Distinguish social and economic realities that underlie the development of professional sports in Papua New Guinea

Let me start by saying anything that brings close to 800 different tribes in our country together as a united nation is a good thing. Because of our diverse cultures, anything that causes us to find common ground is an important agent for national unity, a prerequisite for proper and harmonious nation building.

For a lot of nations, it took terrible and forceful human tragedy that required people to stand up in unison to fight a common enemy to foster the sense of nationalism and pride. It took adversity to define their nation’s character. But in the absence of a major calamity, sport has emerged over the years as an important agent that can foster similar national pride and camaraderie.

The combative nature of sports is the one major striking similarity it has to a physical warfare. It is the element that promotes feelings of oneness and the pursuit of a common goal of victory.

It is no wonder that stories about sporting rivalries are often written using militaristic vocabulary. Hence, sport has become the modern day substitute of physical warfare and adversity to bring people together for a common goal.

From this perspective, it is not hard to see why every Papua New Guinean from all four corners of our country shares the one common passion when our national teams go into battle with other teams from other countries.

Rugby league appears to be the most supported sporting code as demonstrated by the raw passion we have for our national team, the Kumuls. I know I shouted my lungs dry for our team when they played in the Rugby League World Cup last year, and so were everyone on my street at Waigani, Port Moresby and indeed throughout the nation.

In the first game when we almost beat England, I was beaming with pride and tears freely rolled down my cheeks by default. I never forced the tears. They just came from nowhere. It was truly a rare feeling of adrenalin rush. I felt the same when Ryan Pini and Dika Toua competed at the Commonwealth Games and when Stanley Nandex head hunted his opponents with those powerful kicks.

Recognising the important uniting aspect of sports and Rugby League in particular, our government has committed to building a modern stadium in Port Moresby and has put together a team to bid for the right to enter a PNG team in Australia’s National Rugby League competition. Such a move appears to make sense from a social perspective. But how does it sit in the overall scheme of things in respect of where our national priorities lie.

We are now talking professional sport and there is much more to it than simply building a nice modern sporting stadium and entering a team in the NRL. Sport has evolved over the years to become an industry in its own right where its traditional entertainment value has been monetised.

It has become big business and, therefore, like every other business, the important precondition of a willing and able market must exist to sustain it. Without such a market, its imminent demise in the not too distant future is as sure as the going down of the rays. I know a lot of people will come out swinging when they read this, but I am happy to play devil’s advocate for the sake of providing balance in the thinking behind introducing professional sport in our country at this juncture.

Even when I was completely overwhelmed by the emotions of seeing the Kumuls compete bravely to the end, I still refuse to listen to my heart when it comes to making decisions that require me to use my brains. This is because although we do have a very willing local market for the product, that market is largely handicapped financially.

Our sporting market in PNG simply does not possess the economic characteristics required to support professional sports, whether it be Rugby League, Soccer, Netball, Cricket or any one of the other codes. There are very few people in Port Moresby and PNG who can afford to constantly squeeze entertainment spending, including for sport, out of their disposable income over an extended period of time. For starters, we have not adequately developed our middle class, who are the backbone of any economy, to ask them to support professional sport in a practical way.

So in the absence of an appropriately affluent market to support it, professional sport in PNG, especially our NRL team, will continue to look elsewhere for its sustenance once it has been established. Two other sources of funding spring to mind: big businesses and the government.
I can not speak for big businesses because they will obviously be guided by commercial disciplines when committing their financial resources towards this course.

But I would like to observe that the market must still absorb their costs and they will surely feel the heat at some stage when this fails. Businesses are responsible to their shareholders first and foremost and must earn an appropriate level of profits before engaging in activities such as sponsoring professional sport.

Their support to professional sport will be an investment only to the extent that they can demonstrably recoup it with an appropriate margin from the market in a sustained manner. This clearly can not happen in the PNG market under our current economic circumstances. Those who think we can get big businesses in the extractive industry, or other businesses and individuals who rely on them, to support professional sport in our country are living in a fool’s paradise.

It is like walking merrily down to the gallows with full knowledge of your looming execution.
With support from the market and big businesses looking increasingly shaky, where does that leave us with the government? With all due respect to the government’s intentions and support of our NRL bid, I think this is an ill conceived move because it is sure to put significant pressure on the government’s limited finances going forward.

The market can not support this mammoth economic liability we are about to create. So the government will have to bear most of the financial burden at the expense of other key priority development expenditures such as health care, human resource development and infrastructure. In fact the government is already struggling to fund these important areas without unnecessary commitments such as this.
I dare say the talk about fielding a PNG Rugby League team in the NRL is hardly a visionary decision and will only result in distorting government’s spending priorities in the long term.

This idea must be ditched and sports must be developed in a more sustainable way so as to not shift the government’s focus away from its key priority areas. As a nation, we surely can do without sport but not without proper health care, an appropriate investment in human capital development and a continuous focus on building and maintaining our key infrastructure network.

I challenge the government to do everything within its powers to empower the great majority of our people who are crying out for basic services, instead of introducing things that have a real potential to distort its priorities in future. We, the people, will rise up over time and build a more sustainable professional sporting industry in PNG when our socio-economic situation improves. Now is not the time!

Distinguish social and economic realities that underlie the development of professional sports in Papua New Guinea

Let me start by saying anything that brings close to 800 different tribes in our country together as a united nation is a good thing. Because of our diverse cultures, anything that causes us to find common ground is an important agent for national unity, a prerequisite for proper and harmonious nation building.

For a lot of nations, it took terrible and forceful human tragedy that required people to stand up in unison to fight a common enemy to foster the sense of nationalism and pride. It took adversity to define their nation’s character. But in the absence of a major calamity, sport has emerged over the years as an important agent that can foster similar national pride and camaraderie.

The combative nature of sports is the one major striking similarity it has to a physical warfare. It is the element that promotes feelings of oneness and the pursuit of a common goal of victory.

It is no wonder that stories about sporting rivalries are often written using militaristic vocabulary. Hence, sport has become the modern day substitute of physical warfare and adversity to bring people together for a common goal.

From this perspective, it is not hard to see why every Papua New Guinean from all four corners of our country shares the one common passion when our national teams go into battle with other teams from other countries.

Rugby league appears to be the most supported sporting code as demonstrated by the raw passion we have for our national team, the Kumuls. I know I shouted my lungs dry for our team when they played in the Rugby League World Cup last year, and so were everyone on my street at Waigani, Port Moresby and indeed throughout the nation.

In the first game when we almost beat England, I was beaming with pride and tears freely rolled down my cheeks by default. I never forced the tears. They just came from nowhere. It was truly a rare feeling of adrenalin rush. I felt the same when Ryan Pini and Dika Toua competed at the Commonwealth Games and when Stanley Nandex head hunted his opponents with those powerful kicks.

Recognising the important uniting aspect of sports and Rugby League in particular, our government has committed to building a modern stadium in Port Moresby and has put together a team to bid for the right to enter a PNG team in Australia’s National Rugby League competition. Such a move appears to make sense from a social perspective. But how does it sit in the overall scheme of things in respect of where our national priorities lie.

We are now talking professional sport and there is much more to it than simply building a nice modern sporting stadium and entering a team in the NRL. Sport has evolved over the years to become an industry in its own right where its traditional entertainment value has been monetised.

It has become big business and, therefore, like every other business, the important precondition of a willing and able market must exist to sustain it. Without such a market, its imminent demise in the not too distant future is as sure as the going down of the rays. I know a lot of people will come out swinging when they read this, but I am happy to play devil’s advocate for the sake of providing balance in the thinking behind introducing professional sport in our country at this juncture.

Even when I was completely overwhelmed by the emotions of seeing the Kumuls compete bravely to the end, I still refuse to listen to my heart when it comes to making decisions that require me to use my brains. This is because although we do have a very willing local market for the product, that market is largely handicapped financially.

Our sporting market in PNG simply does not possess the economic characteristics required to support professional sports, whether it be Rugby League, Soccer, Netball, Cricket or any one of the other codes. There are very few people in Port Moresby and PNG who can afford to constantly squeeze entertainment spending, including for sport, out of their disposable income over an extended period of time. For starters, we have not adequately developed our middle class, who are the backbone of any economy, to ask them to support professional sport in a practical way.

So in the absence of an appropriately affluent market to support it, professional sport in PNG, especially our NRL team, will continue to look elsewhere for its sustenance once it has been established. Two other sources of funding spring to mind: big businesses and the government.
I can not speak for big businesses because they will obviously be guided by commercial disciplines when committing their financial resources towards this course.

But I would like to observe that the market must still absorb their costs and they will surely feel the heat at some stage when this fails. Businesses are responsible to their shareholders first and foremost and must earn an appropriate level of profits before engaging in activities such as sponsoring professional sport.

Their support to professional sport will be an investment only to the extent that they can demonstrably recoup it with an appropriate margin from the market in a sustained manner. This clearly can not happen in the PNG market under our current economic circumstances. Those who think we can get big businesses in the extractive industry, or other businesses and individuals who rely on them, to support professional sport in our country are living in a fool’s paradise.

It is like walking merrily down to the gallows with full knowledge of your looming execution.
With support from the market and big businesses looking increasingly shaky, where does that leave us with the government? With all due respect to the government’s intentions and support of our NRL bid, I think this is an ill conceived move because it is sure to put significant pressure on the government’s limited finances going forward.

The market can not support this mammoth economic liability we are about to create. So the government will have to bear most of the financial burden at the expense of other key priority development expenditures such as health care, human resource development and infrastructure. In fact the government is already struggling to fund these important areas without unnecessary commitments such as this.
I dare say the talk about fielding a PNG Rugby League team in the NRL is hardly a visionary decision and will only result in distorting government’s spending priorities in the long term.

This idea must be ditched and sports must be developed in a more sustainable way so as to not shift the government’s focus away from its key priority areas. As a nation, we surely can do without sport but not without proper health care, an appropriate investment in human capital development and a continuous focus on building and maintaining our key infrastructure network.

I challenge the government to do everything within its powers to empower the great majority of our people who are crying out for basic services, instead of introducing things that have a real potential to distort its priorities in future. We, the people, will rise up over time and build a more sustainable professional sporting industry in PNG when our socio-economic situation improves. Now is not the time!

Distinguish social and economic realities that underlie the development of professional sports in Papua New Guinea

Let me start by saying anything that brings close to 800 different tribes in our country together as a united nation is a good thing. Because of our diverse cultures, anything that causes us to find common ground is an important agent for national unity, a prerequisite for proper and harmonious nation building.

For a lot of nations, it took terrible and forceful human tragedy that required people to stand up in unison to fight a common enemy to foster the sense of nationalism and pride. It took adversity to define their nation’s character. But in the absence of a major calamity, sport has emerged over the years as an important agent that can foster similar national pride and camaraderie.

The combative nature of sports is the one major striking similarity it has to a physical warfare. It is the element that promotes feelings of oneness and the pursuit of a common goal of victory.

It is no wonder that stories about sporting rivalries are often written using militaristic vocabulary. Hence, sport has become the modern day substitute of physical warfare and adversity to bring people together for a common goal.

From this perspective, it is not hard to see why every Papua New Guinean from all four corners of our country shares the one common passion when our national teams go into battle with other teams from other countries.

Rugby league appears to be the most supported sporting code as demonstrated by the raw passion we have for our national team, the Kumuls. I know I shouted my lungs dry for our team when they played in the Rugby League World Cup last year, and so were everyone on my street at Waigani, Port Moresby and indeed throughout the nation.

In the first game when we almost beat England, I was beaming with pride and tears freely rolled down my cheeks by default. I never forced the tears. They just came from nowhere. It was truly a rare feeling of adrenalin rush. I felt the same when Ryan Pini and Dika Toua competed at the Commonwealth Games and when Stanley Nandex head hunted his opponents with those powerful kicks.

Recognising the important uniting aspect of sports and Rugby League in particular, our government has committed to building a modern stadium in Port Moresby and has put together a team to bid for the right to enter a PNG team in Australia’s National Rugby League competition. Such a move appears to make sense from a social perspective. But how does it sit in the overall scheme of things in respect of where our national priorities lie.

We are now talking professional sport and there is much more to it than simply building a nice modern sporting stadium and entering a team in the NRL. Sport has evolved over the years to become an industry in its own right where its traditional entertainment value has been monetised.

It has become big business and, therefore, like every other business, the important precondition of a willing and able market must exist to sustain it. Without such a market, its imminent demise in the not too distant future is as sure as the going down of the rays. I know a lot of people will come out swinging when they read this, but I am happy to play devil’s advocate for the sake of providing balance in the thinking behind introducing professional sport in our country at this juncture.

Even when I was completely overwhelmed by the emotions of seeing the Kumuls compete bravely to the end, I still refuse to listen to my heart when it comes to making decisions that require me to use my brains. This is because although we do have a very willing local market for the product, that market is largely handicapped financially.

Our sporting market in PNG simply does not possess the economic characteristics required to support professional sports, whether it be Rugby League, Soccer, Netball, Cricket or any one of the other codes. There are very few people in Port Moresby and PNG who can afford to constantly squeeze entertainment spending, including for sport, out of their disposable income over an extended period of time. For starters, we have not adequately developed our middle class, who are the backbone of any economy, to ask them to support professional sport in a practical way.

So in the absence of an appropriately affluent market to support it, professional sport in PNG, especially our NRL team, will continue to look elsewhere for its sustenance once it has been established. Two other sources of funding spring to mind: big businesses and the government.
I can not speak for big businesses because they will obviously be guided by commercial disciplines when committing their financial resources towards this course.

But I would like to observe that the market must still absorb their costs and they will surely feel the heat at some stage when this fails. Businesses are responsible to their shareholders first and foremost and must earn an appropriate level of profits before engaging in activities such as sponsoring professional sport.

Their support to professional sport will be an investment only to the extent that they can demonstrably recoup it with an appropriate margin from the market in a sustained manner. This clearly can not happen in the PNG market under our current economic circumstances. Those who think we can get big businesses in the extractive industry, or other businesses and individuals who rely on them, to support professional sport in our country are living in a fool’s paradise.

It is like walking merrily down to the gallows with full knowledge of your looming execution.
With support from the market and big businesses looking increasingly shaky, where does that leave us with the government? With all due respect to the government’s intentions and support of our NRL bid, I think this is an ill conceived move because it is sure to put significant pressure on the government’s limited finances going forward.

The market can not support this mammoth economic liability we are about to create. So the government will have to bear most of the financial burden at the expense of other key priority development expenditures such as health care, human resource development and infrastructure. In fact the government is already struggling to fund these important areas without unnecessary commitments such as this.
I dare say the talk about fielding a PNG Rugby League team in the NRL is hardly a visionary decision and will only result in distorting government’s spending priorities in the long term.

This idea must be ditched and sports must be developed in a more sustainable way so as to not shift the government’s focus away from its key priority areas. As a nation, we surely can do without sport but not without proper health care, an appropriate investment in human capital development and a continuous focus on building and maintaining our key infrastructure network.

I challenge the government to do everything within its powers to empower the great majority of our people who are crying out for basic services, instead of introducing things that have a real potential to distort its priorities in future. We, the people, will rise up over time and build a more sustainable professional sporting industry in PNG when our socio-economic situation improves. Now is not the time!

Rugby League in Papua New Guinea needs more improvement

Congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls for wining the South Pacific SP Cup final against a strong and very determined Cook Islands. I had to wake up in the middle of the night (1am) to watch the game live played in Port Moresby at three o'clock.

Though the PNG Kumuls put up a classic display of raw talent and skills against Cook Islands, I still think that they needed to concentrate more on ball handling and defense skills. I would like to think that if the PNG Kumuls are to match and play against the toughest in the business, they needed to look closely into these two areas.

If the Papua New Guinea's bid to the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is successful, these two areas are a top priority for a coach to work with the team. Without a strong defense and good ball control tactics, Papua New Guinea most likely will loose most of it's games. An advance preparation is paramount for a better battle.

Perhaps, the new sports minister would want to concentrate on committing more funds to rugby league in the country and junior development at all schools throughout the country. At the same time, convert Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) grounds to a stadium for international matches because PRL doesn't look ideal for big tournaments against big rugby league nations like Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and others.

Go Kumuls!

Rugby League in Papua New Guinea needs more improvement

Congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls for wining the South Pacific SP Cup final against a strong and very determined Cook Islands. I had to wake up in the middle of the night (1am) to watch the game live played in Port Moresby at three o'clock.

Though the PNG Kumuls put up a classic display of raw talent and skills against Cook Islands, I still think that they needed to concentrate more on ball handling and defense skills. I would like to think that if the PNG Kumuls are to match and play against the toughest in the business, they needed to look closely into these two areas.

If the Papua New Guinea's bid to the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is successful, these two areas are a top priority for a coach to work with the team. Without a strong defense and good ball control tactics, Papua New Guinea most likely will loose most of it's games. An advance preparation is paramount for a better battle.

Perhaps, the new sports minister would want to concentrate on committing more funds to rugby league in the country and junior development at all schools throughout the country. At the same time, convert Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) grounds to a stadium for international matches because PRL doesn't look ideal for big tournaments against big rugby league nations like Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and others.

Go Kumuls!

Rugby League in Papua New Guinea needs more improvement

Congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls for wining the South Pacific SP Cup final against a strong and very determined Cook Islands. I had to wake up in the middle of the night (1am) to watch the game live played in Port Moresby at three o'clock.

Though the PNG Kumuls put up a classic display of raw talent and skills against Cook Islands, I still think that they needed to concentrate more on ball handling and defense skills. I would like to think that if the PNG Kumuls are to match and play against the toughest in the business, they needed to look closely into these two areas.

If the Papua New Guinea's bid to the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is successful, these two areas are a top priority for a coach to work with the team. Without a strong defense and good ball control tactics, Papua New Guinea most likely will loose most of it's games. An advance preparation is paramount for a better battle.

Perhaps, the new sports minister would want to concentrate on committing more funds to rugby league in the country and junior development at all schools throughout the country. At the same time, convert Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) grounds to a stadium for international matches because PRL doesn't look ideal for big tournaments against big rugby league nations like Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and others.

Go Kumuls!

Papua New Guinea kicks off ANRL bid

Papua New Guinea has kicked off its bid to enter a team in the NRL competition

Rugby league is PNG's national sport and the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is considered a sporting nirvana. But gaining entry to the NRL has wider implication than simply sporting success - it would provide unifying direction for millions of diehard fans who often play year round, barefoot, in searing heat and on rock-hard surfaces.

PNG political elite know the potential and on Tuesday Prime Minister Michael Somare gave 500,000 kina ($250,000) of government money towards a bid team to develop an NRL proposal for entry.

Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton and Queensland coach Mal Meninga are also assisting the bid team. PNG's deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu said the government is approaching private enterprise to help achieve the necessary criteria for entry into the competition.

"Imagine a PNG team in the NRL competition, imagine the opportunities, and imagine the strengthening of the PNG and Australia relationship," Mr Temu said. "To have our very own NRL team would unite the whole country." PNG rugby league president Danny Holmes said an estimated third of PNG's six million population plays league.

"We can have more influence than the government, that's how important and big this is," he said. "The implications are greater than just having a footy side in the NRL, it gives a big time goal to every kid who puts a boot on.

"We've been using league as a way for kids to learn to be part of a team and a community with a common goal, to learn life skills and confidence," he said. Mr Holmes admits it is not going to be an easy journey to the NRL.

"The government has researched and there is corporate interest," he said.
"The time frame is eight years but there is also talk about 2012, when Somare may retire, so we see." Click here for the PNG Bid website.

Source: AAP

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Papua New Guinea kicks off ANRL bid

Papua New Guinea has kicked off its bid to enter a team in the NRL competition

Rugby league is PNG's national sport and the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is considered a sporting nirvana. But gaining entry to the NRL has wider implication than simply sporting success - it would provide unifying direction for millions of diehard fans who often play year round, barefoot, in searing heat and on rock-hard surfaces.

PNG political elite know the potential and on Tuesday Prime Minister Michael Somare gave 500,000 kina ($250,000) of government money towards a bid team to develop an NRL proposal for entry.

Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton and Queensland coach Mal Meninga are also assisting the bid team. PNG's deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu said the government is approaching private enterprise to help achieve the necessary criteria for entry into the competition.

"Imagine a PNG team in the NRL competition, imagine the opportunities, and imagine the strengthening of the PNG and Australia relationship," Mr Temu said. "To have our very own NRL team would unite the whole country." PNG rugby league president Danny Holmes said an estimated third of PNG's six million population plays league.

"We can have more influence than the government, that's how important and big this is," he said. "The implications are greater than just having a footy side in the NRL, it gives a big time goal to every kid who puts a boot on.

"We've been using league as a way for kids to learn to be part of a team and a community with a common goal, to learn life skills and confidence," he said. Mr Holmes admits it is not going to be an easy journey to the NRL.

"The government has researched and there is corporate interest," he said.
"The time frame is eight years but there is also talk about 2012, when Somare may retire, so we see." Click here for the PNG Bid website.

Source: AAP

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Papua New Guinea kicks off ANRL bid

Papua New Guinea has kicked off its bid to enter a team in the NRL competition

Rugby league is PNG's national sport and the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is considered a sporting nirvana. But gaining entry to the NRL has wider implication than simply sporting success - it would provide unifying direction for millions of diehard fans who often play year round, barefoot, in searing heat and on rock-hard surfaces.

PNG political elite know the potential and on Tuesday Prime Minister Michael Somare gave 500,000 kina ($250,000) of government money towards a bid team to develop an NRL proposal for entry.

Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton and Queensland coach Mal Meninga are also assisting the bid team. PNG's deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu said the government is approaching private enterprise to help achieve the necessary criteria for entry into the competition.

"Imagine a PNG team in the NRL competition, imagine the opportunities, and imagine the strengthening of the PNG and Australia relationship," Mr Temu said. "To have our very own NRL team would unite the whole country." PNG rugby league president Danny Holmes said an estimated third of PNG's six million population plays league.

"We can have more influence than the government, that's how important and big this is," he said. "The implications are greater than just having a footy side in the NRL, it gives a big time goal to every kid who puts a boot on.

"We've been using league as a way for kids to learn to be part of a team and a community with a common goal, to learn life skills and confidence," he said. Mr Holmes admits it is not going to be an easy journey to the NRL.

"The government has researched and there is corporate interest," he said.
"The time frame is eight years but there is also talk about 2012, when Somare may retire, so we see." Click here for the PNG Bid website.

Source: AAP

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National Rugby League, Aust (NRL) bid positive

Papua New Guinea’s bid to enter the Australian National Rugby League competition by 2012 looks good following its inaugural meeting early this month in Brisbane. Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and chairman of the bid team committee Philemon Embel told reporters at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that even though there was still a lot more hard work ahead, he was confident PNG’s bid had a good chance.

“Even though there is a lot more hard work ahead for PNG before we can confidently participate and be competitive in the NRL, I’m confident that with the political will and the financial support from the PNG Government, the bid had a good chance of success,” Embel said.“I want to thank the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his vision and initiative in bidding for a team in the NRL and also for giving K500,000 and committing K20 million to build a stadium,” Embel said.

Jesse Joe Parker (above) and other promising stars in the Rugby League fraternity would like to see positive outcomes for this proposal come 2012

The PNG Government appointed and endorsed a committee charged with the task of preparing PNG’s bid for a franchise to play in the National Rugby League competition in Australia in the future had its inaugural meeting in Brisbane on April 3.Embel was elected chairman by the Bid Team Committee and all members of the Bid Committee were present including NCD Governor Powes Parkop, former Queensland Maroons and Australia captain Mal Meninga, Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton, Frank Kramer and Benais Sabumei.

The Committee made a number of decisions to commence the bid process and the most notable ones the bid committee came up with were:
* To set itself up as a trust entity
* To incorporate a company to commence building the financial base for the future NRL franchise
* The approval of the bid logo
* The approval of an administrative structure
* The approval of its budget
* The approval of marketing, merchandising and promotion strategies.

“The following issues were considered and discussed at length but decisions were deferred to future meetings in order to allow for further consultations and investigations,” Embel said.

These were, sponsorship and naming rights, stadium development, academy and junior development and appointment of lawyers, accountants and auditors Embel expressed satisfaction that the meeting was highly productive and informative and commended the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the choice of the Committee membership. Embel said he was humbled by the wealth of knowledge and experience his committee members demonstrated in their first meeting.

*Draw card for the fight inside. Embel expressed gratitude to all members of the committee for their acceptance to serve on the Bid Committee on behalf of the Government and more particularly the Australian members, who are great Australians in their own right the great league legend and now Queensland coach Meninga, Broughton and Frank Kramer who is chairman and chief executive of the Kinhill Kramer Group of Companies.

After the meeting the PNG members of the Bid Committee and officials visited Rugby League Academies and institutions and NRL Teams establishments and met with rugby league administrators and officials of various leagues including the International Federation, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League.

Embel was particularly pleased ARL and IRFL chairman Colin Love along with the chief executives of both, the ARL and the NRL Geoff Carr and David Gallop respectively were able to meet him and members of the bid team. “I couldn't’t ask for more the fact that I was able to personally inform these very important gentlemen of our bid early enough, is for me, a very significant start for PNG’s bid”. “Everyone we visited, were extremely generous and very helpful and wished PNG well in our Bid.

“They offered their support and assistance which was very encouraging.”“Overall, we have learnt volumes about this game called rugby league and why Australia is successful in being a champion rugby league nation” Embel said.

By LESLIE OMARO of the Post Courier

*** Papua New Guineans being avid followers of Rugby League in Australia, not long they will have their own team representing them. The government must make sure that all this happens as suggested in 2012. We have had enough of rhetoric and keeping people in suspense from successive governments over the years. We hope that, this proposal will hold much water if pursued vigorously.

National Rugby League, Aust (NRL) bid positive

Papua New Guinea’s bid to enter the Australian National Rugby League competition by 2012 looks good following its inaugural meeting early this month in Brisbane. Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and chairman of the bid team committee Philemon Embel told reporters at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that even though there was still a lot more hard work ahead, he was confident PNG’s bid had a good chance.

“Even though there is a lot more hard work ahead for PNG before we can confidently participate and be competitive in the NRL, I’m confident that with the political will and the financial support from the PNG Government, the bid had a good chance of success,” Embel said.“I want to thank the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his vision and initiative in bidding for a team in the NRL and also for giving K500,000 and committing K20 million to build a stadium,” Embel said.

Jesse Joe Parker (above) and other promising stars in the Rugby League fraternity would like to see positive outcomes for this proposal come 2012

The PNG Government appointed and endorsed a committee charged with the task of preparing PNG’s bid for a franchise to play in the National Rugby League competition in Australia in the future had its inaugural meeting in Brisbane on April 3.Embel was elected chairman by the Bid Team Committee and all members of the Bid Committee were present including NCD Governor Powes Parkop, former Queensland Maroons and Australia captain Mal Meninga, Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton, Frank Kramer and Benais Sabumei.

The Committee made a number of decisions to commence the bid process and the most notable ones the bid committee came up with were:
* To set itself up as a trust entity
* To incorporate a company to commence building the financial base for the future NRL franchise
* The approval of the bid logo
* The approval of an administrative structure
* The approval of its budget
* The approval of marketing, merchandising and promotion strategies.

“The following issues were considered and discussed at length but decisions were deferred to future meetings in order to allow for further consultations and investigations,” Embel said.

These were, sponsorship and naming rights, stadium development, academy and junior development and appointment of lawyers, accountants and auditors Embel expressed satisfaction that the meeting was highly productive and informative and commended the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the choice of the Committee membership. Embel said he was humbled by the wealth of knowledge and experience his committee members demonstrated in their first meeting.

*Draw card for the fight inside. Embel expressed gratitude to all members of the committee for their acceptance to serve on the Bid Committee on behalf of the Government and more particularly the Australian members, who are great Australians in their own right the great league legend and now Queensland coach Meninga, Broughton and Frank Kramer who is chairman and chief executive of the Kinhill Kramer Group of Companies.

After the meeting the PNG members of the Bid Committee and officials visited Rugby League Academies and institutions and NRL Teams establishments and met with rugby league administrators and officials of various leagues including the International Federation, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League.

Embel was particularly pleased ARL and IRFL chairman Colin Love along with the chief executives of both, the ARL and the NRL Geoff Carr and David Gallop respectively were able to meet him and members of the bid team. “I couldn't’t ask for more the fact that I was able to personally inform these very important gentlemen of our bid early enough, is for me, a very significant start for PNG’s bid”. “Everyone we visited, were extremely generous and very helpful and wished PNG well in our Bid.

“They offered their support and assistance which was very encouraging.”“Overall, we have learnt volumes about this game called rugby league and why Australia is successful in being a champion rugby league nation” Embel said.

By LESLIE OMARO of the Post Courier

*** Papua New Guineans being avid followers of Rugby League in Australia, not long they will have their own team representing them. The government must make sure that all this happens as suggested in 2012. We have had enough of rhetoric and keeping people in suspense from successive governments over the years. We hope that, this proposal will hold much water if pursued vigorously.

National Rugby League, Aust (NRL) bid positive

Papua New Guinea’s bid to enter the Australian National Rugby League competition by 2012 looks good following its inaugural meeting early this month in Brisbane. Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and chairman of the bid team committee Philemon Embel told reporters at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that even though there was still a lot more hard work ahead, he was confident PNG’s bid had a good chance.

“Even though there is a lot more hard work ahead for PNG before we can confidently participate and be competitive in the NRL, I’m confident that with the political will and the financial support from the PNG Government, the bid had a good chance of success,” Embel said.“I want to thank the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his vision and initiative in bidding for a team in the NRL and also for giving K500,000 and committing K20 million to build a stadium,” Embel said.

Jesse Joe Parker (above) and other promising stars in the Rugby League fraternity would like to see positive outcomes for this proposal come 2012

The PNG Government appointed and endorsed a committee charged with the task of preparing PNG’s bid for a franchise to play in the National Rugby League competition in Australia in the future had its inaugural meeting in Brisbane on April 3.Embel was elected chairman by the Bid Team Committee and all members of the Bid Committee were present including NCD Governor Powes Parkop, former Queensland Maroons and Australia captain Mal Meninga, Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton, Frank Kramer and Benais Sabumei.

The Committee made a number of decisions to commence the bid process and the most notable ones the bid committee came up with were:
* To set itself up as a trust entity
* To incorporate a company to commence building the financial base for the future NRL franchise
* The approval of the bid logo
* The approval of an administrative structure
* The approval of its budget
* The approval of marketing, merchandising and promotion strategies.

“The following issues were considered and discussed at length but decisions were deferred to future meetings in order to allow for further consultations and investigations,” Embel said.

These were, sponsorship and naming rights, stadium development, academy and junior development and appointment of lawyers, accountants and auditors Embel expressed satisfaction that the meeting was highly productive and informative and commended the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the choice of the Committee membership. Embel said he was humbled by the wealth of knowledge and experience his committee members demonstrated in their first meeting.

*Draw card for the fight inside. Embel expressed gratitude to all members of the committee for their acceptance to serve on the Bid Committee on behalf of the Government and more particularly the Australian members, who are great Australians in their own right the great league legend and now Queensland coach Meninga, Broughton and Frank Kramer who is chairman and chief executive of the Kinhill Kramer Group of Companies.

After the meeting the PNG members of the Bid Committee and officials visited Rugby League Academies and institutions and NRL Teams establishments and met with rugby league administrators and officials of various leagues including the International Federation, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League.

Embel was particularly pleased ARL and IRFL chairman Colin Love along with the chief executives of both, the ARL and the NRL Geoff Carr and David Gallop respectively were able to meet him and members of the bid team. “I couldn't’t ask for more the fact that I was able to personally inform these very important gentlemen of our bid early enough, is for me, a very significant start for PNG’s bid”. “Everyone we visited, were extremely generous and very helpful and wished PNG well in our Bid.

“They offered their support and assistance which was very encouraging.”“Overall, we have learnt volumes about this game called rugby league and why Australia is successful in being a champion rugby league nation” Embel said.

By LESLIE OMARO of the Post Courier

*** Papua New Guineans being avid followers of Rugby League in Australia, not long they will have their own team representing them. The government must make sure that all this happens as suggested in 2012. We have had enough of rhetoric and keeping people in suspense from successive governments over the years. We hope that, this proposal will hold much water if pursued vigorously.

GO TEAM PNG!!

Seeing them walking with the colours black, red, and yellow at the opening ceremony in Beijing Olympics on Friday (08/08/08) infront of millions across the world and more millions glued to their TV screens makes me proud to be a Papua New Guinean. I hope our team will do their best in their respective competitions. GO TEAM PNG!!
For more information about medal tally click here

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals

GO TEAM PNG!!

Seeing them walking with the colours black, red, and yellow at the opening ceremony in Beijing Olympics on Friday (08/08/08) infront of millions across the world and more millions glued to their TV screens makes me proud to be a Papua New Guinean. I hope our team will do their best in their respective competitions. GO TEAM PNG!!
For more information about medal tally click here

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals

GO TEAM PNG!!

Seeing them walking with the colours black, red, and yellow at the opening ceremony in Beijing Olympics on Friday (08/08/08) infront of millions across the world and more millions glued to their TV screens makes me proud to be a Papua New Guinean. I hope our team will do their best in their respective competitions. GO TEAM PNG!!
For more information about medal tally click here

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals